Last visit was: 24 Apr 2026, 16:18 It is currently 24 Apr 2026, 16:18
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
avatar
lequanftu26
Joined: 28 May 2012
Last visit: 15 Jun 2020
Posts: 22
Own Kudos:
115
 [42]
Given Kudos: 84
Concentration: Finance, General Management
GMAT 1: 700 Q50 V35
GPA: 3.28
WE:Analyst (Finance: Investment Banking)
GMAT 1: 700 Q50 V35
Posts: 22
Kudos: 115
 [42]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
38
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
daagh
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Last visit: 16 Oct 2020
Posts: 5,262
Own Kudos:
42,465
 [12]
Given Kudos: 422
Status: enjoying
Location: India
WE:Education (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,262
Kudos: 42,465
 [12]
8
Kudos
Add Kudos
4
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
gmat6nplus1
Joined: 04 Oct 2013
Last visit: 09 Jan 2019
Posts: 141
Own Kudos:
703
 [1]
Given Kudos: 29
Concentration: Finance, Leadership
GMAT 1: 590 Q40 V30
GMAT 2: 730 Q49 V40
WE:Project Management (Media/Entertainment)
GMAT 2: 730 Q49 V40
Posts: 141
Kudos: 703
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
PiyushK
Joined: 22 Mar 2013
Last visit: 31 Aug 2025
Posts: 588
Own Kudos:
5,054
 [1]
Given Kudos: 235
Status:Everyone is a leader. Just stop listening to others.
Location: India
GPA: 3.51
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Products:
Posts: 588
Kudos: 5,054
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
In recent years, scholars of psychology have begun to examine more seriously the notion, first proposed by John Keats, of "negative capability"—the idea that maintaining calmness amid uncertainty and doubt, rather than experiencing an anxious urge to find solutions, is a genuine talent and possibly even a therapeutic tool.

A. In recent years, scholars of psychology have begun to examine more seriously the notion, first proposed by John Keats, of "negative capability"—the
Looks good no error found.

B. Proposed first by John Keats, the notion of "negative capability," which scholars of psychology began to examine more seriously in recent years: this is the
Fragmented sentence - verb is missing in for subject - the notion of "negative capability,"
'this is' vague
C. The notion of "negative capability," which John Keats first proposed and scholars of psychology recently began to take more seriously—the
Again fragmented, verb is missing.

D. Proposed first by John Keats, and recently scholars of psychology began to take it more seriously, the notion of "negative capability" is the
-ed modifier and clause are not parallel. further if we remove modifiers from second half of the sentence we will get construction as "is the idea,, is the"

E. First proposed by John Keats, scholars of psychology have recently begun to take the notion of "negative capability" more seriously; this is the
Modifier error + "this is" both wrong.
User avatar
WoundedTiger
Joined: 25 Apr 2012
Last visit: 03 Jan 2026
Posts: 520
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 740
Location: India
GPA: 3.21
WE:Business Development (Other)
Products:
Posts: 520
Kudos: 2,584
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
russ9
PiyushK
In recent years, scholars of psychology have begun to examine more seriously the notion, first proposed by John Keats, of "negative capability"—the idea that maintaining calmness amid uncertainty and doubt, rather than experiencing an anxious urge to find solutions, is a genuine talent and possibly even a therapeutic tool.

A. In recent years, scholars of psychology have begun to examine more seriously the notion, first proposed by John Keats, of "negative capability"—the
Looks good no error found.

B. Proposed first by John Keats, the notion of "negative capability," which scholars of psychology began to examine more seriously in recent years: this is the
Fragmented sentence - verb is missing in for subject - the notion of "negative capability,"
'this is' vague
C. The notion of "negative capability," which John Keats first proposed and scholars of psychology recently began to take more seriously—the
Again fragmented, verb is missing.

D. Proposed first by John Keats, and recently scholars of psychology began to take it more seriously, the notion of "negative capability" is the
-ed modifier and clause are not parallel. further if we remove modifiers from second half of the sentence we will get construction as "is the idea,, is the"

E. First proposed by John Keats, scholars of psychology have recently begun to take the notion of "negative capability" more seriously; this is the
Modifier error + "this is" both wrong.

My Piyush,

I have a couple of questions regarding your explanation:

- In A, the "have begun" threw me off. Isn't have supposed to be paired up with "began"?
- In B, why can't "proposed" be the verb in this sentence? If that's because it's in the modifier then why can't we say that the subject is "notion of neg cap" and the verb is "began"?
-In C - is the opening considered a modifier or the subject? How is it different from B if it's considered a subject?
- Does everything before the "dash" need to be an independent clause? I was under the impression that it can be a modifier type of setting as long as there is a full independent clause after the dash?

Thanks!

I would try to answer your questions..

Option A begins with "In recent years", A clear indicative that we don't know when exactly the action took place but know for certain it began in the past and continues in the present...Since the action continues in the present, we need a present perfect tense "have begun"

If you use the construction, "In the recent years, the scholars began" will not make sense. It says that in recent years, the scholars did something..

Option B "Proposed first by John Keats" is verb-ed modifier and the subject of the sentence is" notion of neg capablity" and there is no verb in the sentence.

"began is verb of the dependent clause or subordinate clause beginning with which "which scholars of psychology began "

Option C: The notion of "negative capability is the subject of the sentence and as correctly pointed by piyush does not have a verb. It is a fragment

When we use a dash or colon, the following clause is usually the explanation of the preceding independent clause.

Not that Independent clause can be joined with another independent clause in the following ways

IC, FANBOYS IC (FANBOYS: For, And,Nor,But,Or,Yet,So)
Or IC;IC or IC:IC (Usually in this case 2nd IC explains the first IC) or IC-IC (usually 2nd IC explains the first IC)

Hope my answers make sense....
User avatar
WoundedTiger
Joined: 25 Apr 2012
Last visit: 03 Jan 2026
Posts: 520
Own Kudos:
2,584
 [1]
Given Kudos: 740
Location: India
GPA: 3.21
WE:Business Development (Other)
Products:
Posts: 520
Kudos: 2,584
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Note : in this sentence we have to use present perfect tense which will have a construction like this
Have+ past participle of begin

Begin: base form
Began: used in past tense
Begun: past participle

So the use of began will be incorrect. Began cannot be used here..

For more on past participles of unusual verb form...check out mgmat sc..
You can also use the below link

https://www.usingenglish.com/reference/irregular-verbs/
https://www.eslcafe.com/grammar/verb_for ... ses11.html

Hope it helps
User avatar
WoundedTiger
Joined: 25 Apr 2012
Last visit: 03 Jan 2026
Posts: 520
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 740
Location: India
GPA: 3.21
WE:Business Development (Other)
Products:
Posts: 520
Kudos: 2,584
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mshrek
WoundedTiger
Note : in this sentence we have to use present perfect tense which will have a construction like this
Have+ past participle of begin

Begin: base form
Began: used in past tense
Begun: past participle

So the use of began will be incorrect. Began cannot be used here..

For more on past participles of unusual verb form...check out mgmat sc..
You can also use the below link

https://www.usingenglish.com/reference/irregular-verbs/
https://www.eslcafe.com/grammar/verb_for ... ses11.html

Hope it helps

Hi,
Please correct me if my understanding is wrong here. In the sentence "Amy has seen Europe" the verb "has seen" is in present perfect tense ?
Also, can you please state 2 e.g that show the usage of "have began" and "have begun". Thanks :)

Has seen is in present perfect tense and you use this sentence under following conditions

1. When the event took place in the past but its effects are still there

2. When the event took place in the immediate past

3. When the time frame is not given....For ex Amy has seen Europe but we don't know when..

4. We use present perfect tense with For and Since phrase..The usage of since should be in context of time...

Have began is incorrect usage...Correct usage in present perfect is have begun...

Note : Present perfect will have the following structure

has/have + Past Participle of the verb.

Begin: Base verb
Began: Simple past tense
Begun: Past participle-------> You use this in present perfect tenses....

Also, All perfect tenses uses past pariticiple and not simple past tense.


More on past participle :
https://www.usingenglish.com/reference/irregular-verbs/
https://www.eslcafe.com/grammar/verb_for ... ses11.html

Sentences:
Present perfect tenses
1.The celebrations for Diwali festival have already begun in India and will last till the end of this week....Present perfect tense
2.Our relationship began when we were in high school

Simple past tense
Where were you when the game began?
The story began in the Colonial Period.

Hope it helps
User avatar
AlexGenkins1234
Joined: 18 Sep 2015
Last visit: 17 May 2023
Posts: 56
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 611
GMAT 1: 610 Q47 V27
GMAT 2: 650 Q48 V31
GMAT 3: 700 Q49 V35
WE:Project Management (Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals)
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
lequanftu26
In recent years, scholars of psychology have begun to examine more seriously the notion, first proposed by John Keats, of "negative capability"—the idea that maintaining calmness amid uncertainty and doubt, rather than experiencing an anxious urge to find solutions, is a genuine talent and possibly even a therapeutic tool.

A. In recent years, scholars of psychology have begun to examine more seriously the notion, first proposed by John Keats, of "negative capability"—the
B. Proposed first by John Keats, the notion of "negative capability," which scholars of psychology began to examine more seriously in recent years: this is the
C. The notion of "negative capability," which John Keats first proposed and scholars of psychology recently began to take more seriously—the
D. Proposed first by John Keats, and recently scholars of psychology began to take it more seriously, the notion of "negative capability" is the
E. First proposed by John Keats, scholars of psychology have recently begun to take the notion of "negative capability" more seriously; this is the

This question could be solved mainly by analyzing the verb tenses:
- The original sentence is using "have begun" (present perfect), implying that scholar begun examining the mentioned notion in the past and are still examining it.
- Notice that options B/C/D do not convey this meaning.
- Regarding option choice E, notice that the meaning is completely changed here - and hence this option is not correct.

-> Hence, option choice A is the correct one.
User avatar
nahid78
Joined: 12 Mar 2013
Last visit: 30 Apr 2023
Posts: 283
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1,062
Products:
Posts: 283
Kudos: 738
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
"scholars of psychology have begun to examine more seriously".... Doesn't MORE require a THAN here? If not, Why?
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 19,424
Own Kudos:
Posts: 19,424
Kudos: 1,010
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club VerbalBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7391 posts
504 posts
358 posts